Day: September 14, 2014

Today’s first, earthing, which is also known as grounding, seemed a natural fit, energetically, after celebrating Positive Thinking Day yesterday. I’ve desired to practice earthing and I’ve been looking for a nice grassy location to walk around in. As I was working in my yard yesterday, I realized I have a nice grassy spot in which to walk! I found my earthing location , literally in my own yard.

Earthing is the practice of walking or exercising barefoot outdoors, preferably on the beach near the ocean or on a grassy section of earth. This fast growing movement, studied by doctors and scientists, is based upon the discovery that connecting to the earth’s natural energy is foundational to vibrant health. The skin is a good conductor of energy and the feet especially so. There is a “sweet spot” on the ball of the foot where all the meridians of the body converge. When the feet make contact with the earth, there is a transfer of free electrons from the earth through the feet to all parts of the body.

Dr. James Oschman is an expert in the field of energy medicine, with a bachelor’s degree in biophysics and a PhD in biology. His research in earthing led him to study inflammation in the human body, which is recognized as the leading cause of major diseases. The free electrons entering the body from the earth are potent antioxidants, beneficial for decreasing levels of inflammation throughout the body by neutralizing free radicals, and therefore decreasing the potential for diseases such as heart disease, arthritis, and even cancer. Grounding has been shown to thin the blood, lower blood pressure and make cells less likely to stick together and form clots. Because free radicals are a major cause of aging as well, keeping the body balanced with electrons from the earth reduces the destructive signs of aging such as wrinkling of the skin and the breakdown of DNA.

Dr. Oschman believes when people began wearing shoes with plasticized and rubberized soles, which block the earth’s free electrons from reaching the body, diseases began to increase, because the level of inflammation within the body rose as well. The simple practice of walking barefoot daily not only feels good and reduces inflammation and disease, it also relieves joint and body pain.

I was intrigued by my research. I have been aware of the negative effects of inflammation for quite some time and take minerals and herbs to counteract the damage within my own body. I had heard of earthing. I thought it was primarily a meditative practice and only discovered today that it is beneficial in reducing inflammation, pain and disease. I love how the right information flows to me at the right time. I used to go barefoot often as a child. Even though I grew up in a large city, I rarely wore shoes while playing in the yard or neighborhood. Although I frequently go barefoot indoors now, I can’t remember the last time I intentionally walked barefoot outside, beyond a quick jaunt out onto the deck or sidewalk.

With child-like glee, I stripped off my shoes and socks early this evening and headed outside. The grass was dewy and dark green on the north side of my house. Slowly, I stepped into the grass and wiggled my bare toes. I sighed with pleasure. I had forgotten how good it feels to be barefoot in the grass. I walked thoughtfully alongside the hosta garden and into the backyard, entering the space that was cleared yesterday. After walking back and forth along the hostas for several minutes, I pulled a chair off the brick seating area and plopped down to catch the setting sun’s last rays. I kept my bare feet flat upon the ground and just let my body relax. I intended to remain connected to the earth for 30 minutes, but an hour later, as darkness descended, I at last stood up and re-entered the house. I felt refreshed.

This is a new practice for me. My intention is to walk barefoot daily for as long as the weather permits, and see if I notice a difference in my body and the way I feel. If I simply reconnect with my joy in walking barefoot outside, that will be a benefit. I hope that connecting again with the earth’s amazing energy will bring increased health and vitality as well. I am open to receive!

Today is Positive Thinking Day! And a great day for me to celebrate for the first time. Years ago, when I first heard of positive thinking, I dismissed it as a gimmicky fad. It seemed like lying to myself, thinking thoughts that weren’t true, which just showed I was unfamiliar with the concept and not ready to shift my attitude. For that’s what positive thinking is, truly, a shift in thoughts, and attitudes, which shifts beliefs, emotions, actions and results. Embracing positive energy, living in awareness and operating at a higher vibrational frequency is a way of life for me now. It was a joy to celebrate Positive Thinking Day, with even greater awareness of my thoughts, attitude and beliefs.

From my own journey, here are some reflections about keeping thoughts on a higher, more positive level:

Embracing the positive isn’t about distorting the truth, it’s about accepting what is, and not creating stories around what’s not true. I deeply appreciate the teachings of Byron Katie, who encourages me to questions my thoughts by asking, “Is it true?” We have upwards of 60,000 thoughts a day. Most of these pass through our awareness without bringing distress. It is when we focus on a thought, and begin to create a story around it, that we can spiral downward into negativity. For example, my friend passed me by on the street, without acknowledging my wave. After I walk on, I focus on the thought that she ignored me, intentionally. If I don’t question the validity of this notion , I can begin to build a story around that thought that goes like this…. She must be mad at me. I must have done something wrong. My friend is mean. I don’t deserve to be treated like this. I need to make a new friend… On and on the thoughts go, creating a story based on a thought that wasn’t even true. The truth is, I don’t know why my friend didn’t respond to me. Perhaps she just didn’t see me. Questioning my thoughts allows me to let go of negative thinking. All I know is, she didn’t wave at me. That’s it. I can check on her later, and move on with my day.

Gratitude always raises my level of positive energy. I don’t walk around all day saying, “I am a billionaire.” I move through the day saying “Thank you”. Today I could say, “I am grateful that I have all that I need in this moment. I am grateful for my home and my family. I am grateful for this beautiful day. I am grateful for my garden.” Gratitude is the foundation of my life. And gratitude is a choice. I can complain, and bring more into my life to complain about. Or I can express gratitude, and bring more into my life to be grateful for. I choose.

What’s going on in my world, positive or negative, is a reflection of what I’m thinking about. Everything is energy, vibrating at different frequencies. When negative people, things, or actions are showing up in my life, it is an invitation to check in with my thoughts, which creates my beliefs, and make a shift. As I release lower energy thoughts, and embrace higher energy ones, my outward world shifts to match my inner world.

I’ve adopted practices that keep my energy humming along, in a positive way. I limit the amount of news that I encounter, by limiting TV news programs, talk radio, and newspapers. If there is something important I need to know, I will know it. I have friends, family and Facebook for that. I also limit my contact with lower energy people. If someone is prone to complaining, I smile and walk away, as quickly as I can. I foster relationships with positive, high energy people. I meditate and pray. I engage in activities that I love and enjoy and that bring me pleasure. Today, a beautiful mild day with abundant sunshine, was perfect for gardening. I puttered around my garden, weeding, watering, cleaning up, touching flowers and plants. When Greg joined me, amazing changes took place in the area of the yard where construction materials and odds and ends have accumulated. With his help, we cleaned up and uncluttered that area, with the immediate effect of freeing energy in that part of the yard. There was suddenly openness and increased flow and I was so delighted with the result that I walked repeated into that area, just to experience the heightened positive energy!

I had a beautiful day, quietly celebrating Positive Thinking Day. It was good to check in frequently with my thoughts, express gratitude and stay in a place of acceptance and allowing. My yard and I both benefitted from powerful, high level energy, as a result of choosing to focus on positive thoughts. At the end of the day, I celebrated with dinner outside and a crackling fire in the fire pit, which was positively perfect!

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This is my Year of Inspiration, and making Life a little more tender, and Art a little more robust.

About Me

I am a woman on a journey, sharing daily about life as it unfolds. My desire is to make Life a little more tender, and Art a little more robust, as stated so beautifully by Alan Rickman. "If only life could be a little more tender, and art a little more robust." My two fold goal for 2017 is to live with empathy, compassion and love toward myself and others....making life more tender, and to explore and develop my creativity...making art more robust. I am guided by Inspiration, In fact, the word Inspiration comes from the Middle English meaning, Divine Guidance. Join me on my journey!
You can check out my previous journeys by clicking on the archives.
2014 - Year of Firsts
2015 - Year of Journeys
2016 - Year of Surrender